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Dinesh Chandimal and Charith Asalanka spent half a century leading Sri Lanka to a comfortable five-goal victory over Zimbabwe in their first one-day international on Sunday.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
Chasing a 297 victory, Sri Lanka are 129 between best player Chandimal (75) and Asalanka (71), with nine goals remaining and a 1-0 lead in three games – Kandy match series. Opener Pathum Nissanka had a 75 to chase on a batting wicket. Sean Williams scored 100 in Zimbabwe’s 296, with nine in 50 overs.
“Our batsmen showed class and maturity in the chase,” captain Dasan Shanaka said after the win. “Credits to Nissanka, Asalanka and Chandimal. We also have a lot of players on the bench. We want to consider them in upcoming games.”
Nissanka has established key partnerships, including 40 open booths with Kusal Mendis. Blessed Muzarabani sent Kusal back for 26, Richard Ngarava batted Kamindu Mendis to check Sri Lanka. Nissanka joined Chandimal in the stands with 66 points, and he improved his maiden ODI 50 points on 48 balls to rapturous applause from the home crowd. He fell while trying to hit the ball and was caught behind Sikandar Raza.
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But the left-right batting combination of Chandimal and Asalanka took the attack to the opposition before losing their wicket.
Chandimal fell to Ngarava who also had Asalanka trapped lbw but Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne completed the victory.
Williams fifties, origins
Earlier, southpaw Williams recorded his fifth ODI century after his team opted to bat first. Regis Chakabva, who had 72, and rookie Takudzwanashe Kaitano, who had 42, started batting with an 80-point opening stand.
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Jeffrey Vandersay broke the partnership with his leg spin and denied Ketano 50 in the batsman’s first international, but Chakabois continued the attack. He made the most of two catches to improve his fourth ODI in half a century before falling behind on an attempted sweep.
Williams hit nine fours and two sixes in 87 at-bats, hitting 50 of 52.
He was eventually knocked out by Karunaratne, who took three wickets, including two in the final, 6 and 4 by Ngarava. “We’re very disappointed that we didn’t get the win. We were probably 20 or 30 people short,” said skipper Craig Ervine.
The second game will be played at the same venue on Tuesday.
The three-match series provides the key Premier League points needed to automatically qualify for the Over-50 World Cup in 2023. The top eight teams will go directly to the tournament.
Sri Lanka, lacking several key players including Wanindu Hasaranga and Dhananjaya de Silva, are currently seventh, while Zimbabwe is 13th.
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